Automobile door latch mechanism



' sept. 14, 1943. l

H. E. VAN VOORHEES UTOMOBILE DOOR LATCH MECHANISM Filed Aug. 3, 1940- ZShSetS-Sheet l n -ma a.

Sept. 14, 1943. H. E. VANv vooRHE-Es 2,329,232

2 AUTOMOBILE DoQR LATCH MEGHANISM Filed Aug. 5, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Sept. 14, 1943 AUTOMOBILE DOOR LATCH MECHANISM HaroldE. Van Voorhees, Detroit, Mich., assigner to The Atwood Vacuum Machine Company, Rockford, Ill., a co-partnership composed of Seth B. Atwood and James T. Atwood Application August 3, 1940, serial No. 350,322

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved automobile door latch mechanism.

In my Patent 2,143,965, issued January y1'7, 1939, I disclosed a rotary type latch bolt arranged to operate in a substantially vertical plane between the edge of the door and the pillar, such operation having certain specied advantages over a. horizontally operated bolt, among which may be mentioned that of providing ample travel for the bolt in locking and unlocking without interference with the adjacent channel for the glass run, another important advantage being that the opening up of the joint between the door and pillar, due to body distortion, does not aiiect the operation of this type of latch, Whereas it pre- -sents serious diiiculties 4where the bolt Works horizontally. This previously patented door latch mechanism contemplated use thereof in connection with separate dovetails for insuring accurate location of the door within a small range measured vertically so that very little bolt travel is suflicient to latch the door properly. In the structure of my present invention door latching and dovetailing means are consolidated in a more compact structure, the latch mechanism of my invention being embodied in the dovetail.

Invmy previous patent, I also disclosed a pull type handle for operating the rotary latch bolt. However, rotary handles are in popular demand, and it is therefore the principal object of my invention to provide a simple and practical door latch mechanism of the kind mentioned arranged to be operated by means'of a 'rotary type handle, the mechanism being so designed as to afford ample operating clearance relative to the adjacent channel for the glass run.

A salient feature is the compact mounting of two rotary plates on a mounting plate so as to aiord ample clearance with respect to the channel for the glass run while at the same time simplifying the construction generally by enabling direct-operation of the latch bolt by either of these parts, one of which is arranged to be turned by means of the rotary door handle and the other of which is arranged to be operated by the roll back link.

Similar reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughout the views Referring iirst to Figs. 1 to 5, the reference numeral II designates the spring-pressed rotary latch bolt pivotally mounted as at I2 on a hori- 'ozntal axi; for swinging movement in a vertical plane between the edge of the door I3 and the pillar I4. The stud providing the pivot I2 has upset ends serving to secure the dcvetail shaped housing I5 to the back plate I6. The housing I5 is also secured to the plate I5 by its Iiange portion II through which lugs I8 on the plate I6 are entered and bent over, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 5. The two parts thus I secured together are adapted to be riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the edge wall of the door I3, the holes I9 being provided for that purpose. The dovetailshaped housing I5 projects through the opening 20 in the edge wall of the door and is arranged to have Wedging engagement between a striker plate 2I and a bumper 22 carried on a mounting plate 23 suitably secured, as indicated at 24, to the door pillar I4.

The striker plate 2| is rigidly secured to the l mounting plate 23 by rivets 25 and has two teeth` 26 and 21 for cooperation with the tooth 28 of the latch bolt I I, that projects through an opening 29 provided inthe bottom wall of the dovetail shaped housing I5. When the door is closed properly, the tooth 28 is engaged under spring pressure behind the tooth 26; the tooth 21 is I merely a safety catch, such lprovision being well The invention is illustrated in the accompanyknown in this art. The bumper 22 consists of a sheet metal wedge-shaped housing 30 fastened by means of rivets 3| to the mounting plate 23 with freedom for limited up and down as well as in and out movement parallel-to the plate I3, under the restraint, however, of a rubber block 32 with which the housing 30 is iilled, the block having al tight flt in the housing and around the stud 3I. It is obvious, therefore, that when the door I3 is closed, the dovetail shaped housing' I5, entering between the striker plate 2| and bumper 22, after the manner of the conventional dovetails of automobile doors, will accurately locate the rotary latch bolt II with respect to the striker plate 2| and therefore insure proper latching of the door. The wedging action obtained, particularly with the yielding action of the rubber block 32 in the bumper 22,- eliminates likelihood of the door rattling when the car is in motion, and also insures keeping the tooth 28 of the rotary latch bolt II proplerly engaged with the tooth 26 and the striker therefore, no danger of accidental opening of the door like there is where the bolt is operated in a horizontal direction and the amount `of engagement between the bolt and the striker plate varies according to the size of the gap between gaging the lug 59 normally under spring pressure so as to hold the handle 46 approximately horizontal while the door is closed. The handle 46 the door and pillar. The fact that the latching is done directly in thedovetailed portions on the door and pillar obviously further insures uniiormly better results than could possibly be obtained otherwise, and it goes Without saying that an appreciable saving in cost is realized by the embodiment of the latch mechanism in the dovetail since that makes the provision of a separate dovetail unnecessary.

If desired, a reverse arrangement of the striker plate and bumper may be provided, that is to` say, I mayhave a striker plate yieldablymounted as shown at 2Ia in Figs. 6 and 7, whereas the bumper 22a is rigid, the same being in this case an integral projection from the mounting plate 23a. A recess 33 inv the striker plate 2 Ia provides space for the rubber block 32a, as shown in Fig.' '1, the block tting tightly within the strikv er plate and around the stud- 34. As indicated in Fig. 6, there'are two studs 34 in longitudinally spaced relation'relative'to the striker plate, and, of course, two rubber blocksy 32a cooperating therewith. With this arrangement, the results are substantially the same'at with the arrang'- the spring, and the spring having its active outer v end portion 38 bearing on top of the outer end of the latch bolt I I, as clearly appears in Figs. 3 and 4. The back plate I6 is bent at right angles, as at 39, to provide a fiange extension 46 adjacent one endof the dovetail-s'haped housing I5. bushing 4I is rotatably mounted'in an opening 42 in the extension 40 and has flats 43 -milled thereon to provide an operating connection with in 'opening the door is operated so as to turn the plate 44' in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 2 and'5, whereby to raise the latch bolt II, the opening movementof the handle being limited by engagement of the lug 5l on the latch bolt I'I with the upper end of the slot 5U. The latch bolt I I may also be operated from the inside of the door I3 by means ofthe usual handle (not shown), said handle having'means for communicating reclprocatory movement to the link' 60 that is pivotally connected'at 6I to the arm 62 formed on the plate 45. It is obvious that when the link 60 is moved to the left in Fig. 2, the plate 45 is given a -counterclockwise motion causing the tooth 53 to raise the latch bolt I I by engagement with its lug 5I, the plate 4 5 in this operation turning freely on the bushing 4I and accordingly not disturbing the plate 44 and the handle 46 connected therewith. It should be clear from this description that the present latch mechanism takes up veryv little room in the door 'space between the channel`63and the edge of the door for extension of the stem 41 from the handle 46.150 the latch operating mechanism.

` The doonlmay be locked from the outside inside.. At 13 is indicated a square shank rotatable with a key from the outside of the door when the proper key is entered in the lockA (not shown). The shank 13 turns cam 14 .working ina yoke 15 of a bolt 16`slidably mounted in a casingl 11.

a plate 44, whereas another plate 45 is freely ro tatable on the bushing. A handle 46 rigidly secured to the outerend of a stem 41 has a square inner end portion 48 fitting in the square bore 49 ing 4I, permit ing rotation of the bushing as required in opening the dor.

A slot 50 is provided in the back plate I6, and a lug 5I projects laterally from the outer end of the latch bolt II through the slot foroperationeither by the tooth 52 on car.

site direction from that used in opening the door to come into position over the lug 5I and thus provide a kick-off means which acts to auto- .matically disengage the locking lug from its locking position under lug 58. This eliminates the possibility of the driver leaving the key in the ignition lock and locking himself out of the To fully lock the car he. has to operate shank 13 by key from the outside. Coincident with the movement of the tooth 19 into position over the lug 5I the locking lug 80 on the link 60 comes into position under the lug 58 and over fthe lugA 59, whereby positively to prevent rotation of the plate 44 by means of the handle on the outside of the door and accordingly positively p revent opening of the door. The inside operated locking means is therefore equallyas effective,

'if not more so, than the conventional outside locking means. 4It is believed vthe foregoing description conor the element, an inside operated actuating lever also ing element, a spring tensioned retracting arm operatively associated directly with the latching element, an inside operated actuating lever also operatively associated directly with said latching element, said arm and lever being arranged in stacked relationa common support for said arm and lever, a bushing pivotally mounted on said support to hold the 'armand lever in stacked relation and pivotally mount the same on` said lsupport, said bushing having the arm non-rotatably xed on'the bushing and having the lever pivoted thereon, an in'side operated link pivotally attached to said lever for operating the same,v an outside operated member including a shank entered in said bushing to turn the same, and cooperating abutments on saidarm and link to block movement of said member when saidlever is turned in the reverse direction from that required to retract the latching element.

2. A door latch mechanism comprising a vertically oscillatable latching element spring pressed to move downwardly, a spring tensioned retracting arm operatively associated with the latching element for direct engagement therebeneath, an

insideoperatedactuating lever also operatively associated with said latching element for directA engagement therebeneath, saidA arm and lever being arranged in stacked relation, a common support for said arm and lever, a bushing pivotally mounted on said support to. hold the arm and lever in stacked relation and pivotally mount the same on said support, said bushing having the arm non-rotatably xed on the bushing and having the lever pivoted thereon, an inside operated link pivotally attached to said lever for operating the same, `an outside operated member including a shank entered in said bushing to turn the same, cooperatingabutments on said arm and link to block movement of said member when said lever is turned in the reverse direction vfrom that operatively associated directly with said latching element, said arm and lever being arranged in` stacked relation, a common support for'said arm and lever, a bushing pivotally mounted on said support to hold the arm and lever in stacked relation and pivotally 'mount the same on said support, said bushing having the arm non-rotatably xedion the bushing yand having the lever pi"- oted thereon, an inside operated link pivotally attached to said lever for operating the same, an

outside .operated member including a shank entered in said bushing to tur'n the same, cooperating abutments on saidarm and link to block movement of said. member when said lever is turned in the reverse direction from that required to retract the latching element, and an abutment on said support for -limiting the spring return of said retracting arm, said abutment being so disposed with respect to said `lever and link to be engaged ,by the link when the lever is held. in'

, link pivotally attached to said lever for operating the same,ian outside operated member including required to retract the latching element, and an extension on said lever movable into the path of .movement of said latching element for direct engagement on the top thereof in the latter moveblocking position.

'4. A door latch'mechanism comprising a vertically oscillatable latching element spring pressed to move downwardly, a spring tensioned retracting arm operatively associated with the latching element for direct engagement therebeneath, an inside'operated actuating lever also operatively associated with said latching element for direct engagement therebeneath,said arm and lever being arranged in stacked relation, a' common support for said arm and lever, a bushing pivotally mounted on said support to hold the arm and lever in stacked relation and pivotally mount the same on saidv support, said bushing having the arm non-rotatably iix'ed on the bushing and having the leverpivoted thereon, an inside operated a shank entered in said bushing to turn the same, cooperating abutments on said arm and link to block movement of said member when said'lever is turned in the reversedirection from that required to retract the latching element, an abutment on said support for limiting the spring return of said retracting arm, said abutment being so disposed with respect to said lever and link to be engaged by the link when the lever is held in blocking position, and an extension on said lever movable into the path of movement of said latching element 'for' direct engagement on the top thereof in the latter movement of said lever, whereby said .latching element moves said lever out of blocking position when the door is slammed.

HAROLD EQ VAN vooRHEEs 

